Novelis successfully commissioned a state-of-the-art aluminum shredding and sorting system from Wendt Corporation at its Guthrie recycling facility in Kentucky. This is part of the company’s $365 million investment project to build a highly advanced recycling center in Guthrie that will support closed-loop recycling for the automotive market in North America.
Constructed next to Novelis’ existing automotive finishing plant, which produces high quality aluminum sheet products for key automotive customers, such as BMW, Tesla, Ford, and Stellantis, the Guthrie recycling facility is being outfitted with industry-leading processes and capabilities for the processing and recycling of aluminum scrap.
The newly commissioned shredding and sorting equipment is a fully integrated, high-capacity system engineered and delivered by Wendt. At the heart of the system is Wendt’s renowned M6090 Shredder, a modular solution designed for maximum throughput and efficiency, powered by an AC motor with variable frequency drive to optimize energy use and performance. The system also includes an in-feed conveyor, the Wendt EZR Pre-Shredder, and a comprehensive downstream sorting system.
Designed specifically for the aluminum sector, Wendt’s system can process a wide range of aluminum grades and product types, including baled and loose taint/tabor, production scrap, and used beverage cans (UBCs), among others. Its flexible shredding and sorting configuration allows Novelis to adapt to evolving feedstock streams while maintaining high recovery rates and product purity.
“We are proud to support Novelis in their vision to advance aluminum as the material of choice with circular solutions,” said Tom Wendt, president of Wendt. “This project is one of the most advanced and comprehensive aluminum processing systems we’ve delivered. It highlights the strength of our team and our ability to guide customers through the complexities of large-scale aluminum recycling projects, helping them achieve both their sustainability and operational goals.”